8 held as crime swoop yields lion parts, tiger skin
A tiger skin was among the animal products found in the possession of eight men arrested on Sunday.
Lion meat and bones were also found in their possession.
The eight were caught outside Klerksdorp in North West, the Hawks said yesterday.
Police spokesperson Captain Tlangelani Rikhotso said the suspects, aged between 22 and 60, were arrested on Sunday during an intelligence-driven operation conducted by the Hawks’ North West serious organised crime unit, assisted by crime intelligence, Klerksdorp tactical response team, Potchefstroom flying squad and the department of nature conservation.
The team intercepted two vehicles. During a search of both vehicles, they recovered lion bones, lion meat, a tiger skin, gas cylinders, gas burners, containers, a saw, knives and other equipment believed to have been used to process the bones, said Rikhotso.
“The suspects took the team to another farm ... where the lions were allegedly slaughtered.”
The suspects are due to appear in the Klerksdorp Magistrate’s Court today, facing charges of illegal possession of game products without a permit and carrying out restricted activities involving a specimen of a listed, threatened or protected species. – ANA